Minnesota Lynx 2018 season primer

The Lynx are already one of the game's great dynasties, but they've got plenty to play for in 2018, as Minnesota looks to win back-to-back titles for the first time in franchise history.

But after an offseason of change on the bench, they'll look a little different this year. Check out our recap of all the biggest Lynx news of the offseason, as well as some of the happenings around the WNBA.

Associated PressMark J. Terrill

REEVE NAMED GENERAL MANAGER

Head coach Cheryl Reeve's contract extension came with a promotion: She's now the Lynx's general manager, a title previously held by CEO Roger Griffith. There's ample evidence that Reeve's role won't change much -- the four-time champ is deeply involved in the team's personnel decisions -- but it's yet another accolade of sorts for one of the best in the business.

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CORE INTACT, BUT LYNX REMIX BENCH

The Lynx's veteran starting five -- Maya Moore, Seimone Augustus, Rebekkah Brunson, Sylvia Fowles and Lindsay Whalen -- returns intact, but the bench was put in a blender following title No. 4. Forward Plenette Pierson retired after playing a key role off the bench, while Natasha Howard was shipped to Seattle for a second-round pick. The Lynx added another stellar veteran to make up the difference, trading a first-round pick to Phoenix for three-time All-Star Danielle Robinson, who averaged 9.7 points and 4.7 assists last year for the Mercury. Minnesota also brought 12-year guard Tanisha Wright out of a one-year retirement, signing the defensive whiz -- she was named to the WNBA All-Defensive first or second time seven times between 2009-16 -- who is one of 16 players in league history to record 3,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 1,000 assists.

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WHALEN NAMED GOPHERS HEAD COACH

Who saw this one coming? Whalen will remain the Lynx point guard for at least one more season, while also coaching the Gophers following the sudden departure of Marlene Stollings. The former Gophers great is already making her presence felt: She landed a top-100 recruit last week, picking up four-star guard and former Clemson commit Mercedes Staples of Utah.

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RENEE MONTGOMERY LEAVES IN FREE AGENCY

Montgomery was drafted by the Lynx in 2009, but was shipped to Connecticut as part of the Whalen trade. She returned via trade back in 2015, and was a key reserve guard for the Lynx's championship teams in 2015 and 2017. Last season Montgomery averaged 9.7 points and 3.1 assists in 21.8 minutes. Montgomery signed with the Atlanta Dream as a free agent.

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LOCAL STAR WAGNER DRAFTED IN 3RD ROUND

Minnesota used the final pick of the WNBA draft to select Gophers great Carlie Wagner at No. 36 overall. Wagner's fame definitely precedes her. A native of New Richland, Minn., Wagner led little New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva High School to back-to-back state championships in 2013 and 2014. She stayed home for college, finishing her Gophers career third on Minnesota’s all-time career scoring list behind some good company: Lynx teammate Whalen and Rachel Banham, who currently plays for the Connecticut Sun. The Lynx waived Wagner earlier this week -- unsurprising given their incredible depth at guard -- but she wouldn't be the first player to return to the team later on.

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CAN THEY REPEAT?

The Lynx have won four titles in the last seven seasons -- all in odd years (2011, '13, '15, '17). But Minnesota has been in two other championship in that span, losing to Indiana in four games in 2012 and Los Angeles in five games in 2016. A seventh title appearance is certainly not out of the question, especially with the returning cast and the way the Lynx re-tooled and re-loaded their bench. No team has repeated as WNBA champion since the Houston Comets in 1999-2000. Just call that more motivation for Reeve and the team to cement the Lynx's dynasty.

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AROUND THE WNBA

-- The San Antonio Stars relocated to Las Vegas after the 2017 season where they became the Aces, claiming one of the prime gambling-based monikers that the NHL's Vegas Golden Knights bizarrely passed on.

-- Katie Smith, who played for the Lynx from 1999-2005 and made seven All-Star teams in her 15-year WNBA career, was named head coach of the New York Liberty in October. Smith had been an assistant coach for New York since 2014.

-- Center Liz Cambage returned to the WNBA after spending five years playing in her native Australia and China, signing with the Dallas Wings.

-- Angel McCoughtry is back. The Atlanta Dream's all-time leading scorer returned after taking 2017 off to rest. The No. 1 overall pick back in 2009, McCoughtry needs just 10 points to reach 5,000 for her career.